OFFSTAGE: Kellie Pickler Preps for Fox Trot and "Crazy Grandpas"

(CMT Offstage keeps a 24/7 watch on everything that’s happening with country music artists behind the scenes and
out of the spotlight.)

Kellie Pickler admits that Dancing With the Stars
isn’t easy. “This show really takes a toll on your mind and your body and your spirit and everything,” Pickler told CMT Radio
during a Thursday (April 11) interview. But that doesn’t mean she’s not determined to stick with it, especially now that she
has come this far in the competition. So next week will be her first ever attempt at a fox trot, which she said she’s just
heading into the dance studio to learn now. And then right after that, she said both of her “crazy grandpas” are going to
be coming to California to cheer her on. So it sounds to me like Pickler is really committed to dancing her way to a win.
On Monday’s (April 8) show, she danced a rumba to her husband’s song “Say I Do.”

“I was terrified, and I was an emotional
wreck. I’m kind of glad that it’s over,” Pickler said.

And she talked about how blessed she is to have her husband
Kyle Jacobs in her life, whether it’s on that stage or not. “I definitely married my soul mate. When you do settle down and
you do get married and you make that covenant with God, you should make it with a person that makes you want to be a better
person,” she said. “All the qualities that I don’t have, he makes up for.”